September 7, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Malaysian handicraft is more than just making nice and interesting items out of local natural resources. With the right know how and the right set of products, Malaysian handicrafts are capable of becoming a lucrative source of income, and indirectly, a good revenue stream for the nation’s economy.
This fact has been highlighted in a recent local news article that focused on the efforts of Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) to diversify into the handicraft business. Using local natural resources such as paddy straw, mengkuang (screw pine), rattan and pandan leaves, Mada entrepreneurs have successfully produced bags, picture frames, wallets, boxes, note books and greeting cards. Their businesses tend to rake in a monthly income of RM15,000 to RM88,000, according to the figures given in the article.
If those figures are true, then weaving mats and assembling rattan baskets might actually allow you to earn more than some high profile managerial position in the city. Duduk kampung (Village life) suddenly seems like a better option, don’t you think?
Read the full article below:
Efforts by rice-producing Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) to diversify into the handicraft business are showing encouraging results.
Using padi straw, mengkuang (screw pine), rattan and pandan leaves, Mada entrepreneurs have successfully produced bags, picture frames, wallets, boxes, note books and greeting cards.
The hand-held fan is one of the handmade products using screwpine leaves that is commonly sold here in Malaysia
The business raked in a monthly income of between RM15,000 and RM88,000 from January to May this year.
Mada senior agriculture officer Zulkifli Romli said the most popular products were batik, straw-based items and ceramics, which were produced by 15 entrepreneurs in Kedah and Perlis.
Mada uses the Area Farmers’ Organisation C-111 Tajar station as well as the Sultan Abdul Halim Airport here as its sales centre while awaiting the completion of a centre in Pendang.
“Mada began paying attention to the production of handicraft last year but it was only this year that it was intensified,” said Zulkifli.
“Usually, such products are produced by the Handicraft Corporation but we took the initiative to produce them, seeing that we have our own raw materials,” he said.
Zulkifli added that the corporation, the private sector and agricultural entrepreneurs helped Mada entrepreneurs make the handicraft products.
“Mada helps them improve on the quality of the products, including in matters of packaging and marketing,” he said.
Source: The Star
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